Sealed frame cross joint



DeC- 14, 1965 s. A. E. sKRoMr-:DA 3,223,209

SEALED FRAME CROSS JOINT Filed April 16, 1963 M lie/1f United StatesPatent (i).n

3,223,209 SEALED FRAME CROSS JOINT Stephen A. E. Skromeda, Torrance,Calif., assigner to Pacific Curtainwall, Inc., Long Beach, Calif., acorporation of California Filed Apr. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 273,476 2Claims. (Cl. 1S936) The present invention relates to seals, and moreparticularly to a novel means of sealing the joints of interlockingstructural members.

Although the seal of the present invention to be hereinafter describedis highly suitable for a variety of interlocking joints, the exampleselected for illustration of one preferred embodiment relates tostructural frame members of curtain walls and like types of buildingstructures.

In such construction, the panels or windows that cover most of the areaof the exterior Walls of such buildings are supported byvertically-disposed extruded metal tubes and horizontally-disposedextruded metal members interlocking therewith.

In the trade, the vertical tubes are often referred to as mullions; thehorizontal members being called muntins or bars.

The problem of sealing the joints of the interlocking vertical andhorizontal members is difficult because of moisture intrusion, windstresses, expansion and contraction strain, etc., all of which areconstantly imposed on building Walls. Thus far no sealing means has beenfound that solves the sealing problem to complete satisfaction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means for sealingthe joints of interlocking wall frame members which sealed joint isimpervious to moisture and Weather and is unaffected by relativemovement of the members.

It is yanother object of the present invention to provide a means ofsealing the joints of interlocking members that closely adheres to theinterlocked surfaces but is suciently flexible between the adheringsurfaces that no rupture, separation or peel-away of the seal from thejoint is possible during relative movement between the members Otherobjects will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

I u the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a typical joint of interlockedvertical and horizontal members.

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic sectional View of the interlocked joint takenalong lines 2 2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the interlocked jointtaken along lines 3 3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a typical block of sealant material inits normal state.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the sealant material shown in FIGURE 4in its compressed state.

In FIGURE 1 a typical section of a vertical mullion or tube 5 is shown.The shape of the extruded metal tube in cross-section, to be describedbelow, is typical along the entire length of the tube and comprises anexterior box section 6 joined by an integral web 7 to the rear orinterior wall 8 of the tube 5, the forward end of web 7 being joined tothe rear side 9 of box section 6.

The recess 10 defined on each side of the web 7 encloses the side edgeof the panel or window (not shown) to be supported therein.

The opening 11 in the exterior box section 6 is finally closed with acover or cap (not shown) that snaps in place between grooves 12 providedon each side of the opening 11.

The rear side 9 of the box section 5, on each side of the web 7 isprovided with integral shouldered anges 13 that define U-shaped sealchannels 14 between the lianges 13 and rear side 9 of section 5.

3,223,2tl9 Patented Dee. 14, 1955' ICC A horizontal bar 15 is joined ininterlocking relationship with the Vertical tube 5, being disposednormal to each other with one end of bar 15 extending into recess 10 ofvertical tube 5 forming a joint 16 at the intersection, which joint 16must be sealed.

The horizontal member 15 preferably is extruded of metal and has agenerally T-shaped cross-section as best shown in FIGURE 2, beingpositioned normally with respect to thek vertical tube 5 so that thewidest cross-bar 17 of the T-section is disposed 'adjacent to theexterior of the wall.

The upper side of web 18 of the horizontal lmember 15, that extendsbetween the cross-bar 17 and a narrower cross-bar 19, forms a recess tosupport the bottom edge of a Wall panel or window (not shown); the otherside forming a recess for the upper edge of the wall panel below (alsonot shown).

Sealing strips are interposed between the edges of the window panels orwindow panels and the adjacent surfaces of the vertical tubes andhorizontal members in the conventional manner. This construction is welldeveloped and familiar to those :skilled in the art and therefore thesealing strips and panels have been omitted herein as they form no partof the invention described herein'.

A slot 21 is cut through the Wall of flange 13 on the rear side 9 of boxsection 5 of the tube, wide enough to accommodate the full width of thecross-bar 17 of horizontal member 15; a similar but narrower slot 22also being cut through the' wall of flange 23 provided on the in-y sideface of the rear wall 8 to accommodate cross-bar 19 at the opposite endof web 18, as best shown in FIG- URE 2.

To join the members, the end of the horizontal member 15 is positionednormal to vertical tube 5 and extended into the recess 10 bounded onthree sides by the rear side 9 of the box section 6, web 7, and rearwall 8 of the vertical tube 5. By holding the tolerances fairly close onthe dimensions of the slots 13 and 22, a neat-appearing joint 16 can bemade. However, a reasonable clearance should be allowed laround theslots .so that the vertical and horizontal members can be assembled withminimum etort.

To seal the exterior joint 16 according to the present invention, thereis required a block of a packing material or sealant that can becompressed and attened to `a fraction of its normal thickness, which,after a short period of time, will return to its original or normalthickness. A block of such material is compressed to a thin enoughsection to be inserted into the channel 14. The packing material is cutinto blocks that are sutliciently long to bridge the slot 21 and extendan appreciable distance along the channel 14 on each end of the slot 21.

The horizontal member 15 can be inserted easily into the recess 10provided in vertical tube 5 while the packing material 25 is in thecompressed or flattened state in the channel 14.

To prevent the sealant material 25 from creeping out of channel 14around the recessed end of horizontal member 15, a continuous groove 26is formed in the inside face of flange 13, exteriorly of the sealantmaterial, into which cylindrical rods 26 can be installed on each sideof cross bar 17 as shown in broken line in the partial phantom view ofFIGURE 2, the rods 26 extending parallel with the recess behind theblock of packing material 25 to act as dams or barriers preventingcreep-out of the sealant. Between each rod 26 installation of cross bar17 prevents the packing material 25 from creeping out of channel 14between rods 26.

While many possible packing materials and sealants may come to the mindsof skilled artisans, a sealant that is preferred for use in forming thesealed joints of the present invention is available on the market, knownby its trademark Compriban-d. The material consists of a body ofcohesive material characterized by an elastic plastic foam structuredefined by thin Walls around open pores impregnated or coated withbitumen. The bitumen is solid and non-tacky at room temperature. Adetailed description and method of making it in several forms isdisclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,964,424, dated December 13, 1960, forBitumen-Impregnated-Foam Packing Material by Laban Mast.

-In appearance, a block of uncompressed Compriband resembles the drawingof FIGURE 4. In its compressed or flattened state Compriband lookssomewhat like the drawing of FIGURE 5.

Compressed Compriband resumes its original or normal dimensions veryslowly; something in the order of -20 minutes depending upon thetackiness of the bitumen.

However, other sealant material such as foam rubber, etc., impregnatedwith glue or partially cured resin, may be used if desired.

As part of the sealant expands through the slot 21 in flange 13 ofchannel 14 in vertical member 5 to resume its normal dimensions, thematerial will exert sufiicient pressure against the adjacent surface ofcross-bar 17 of horizontal member 15 to closely adhere thereto.

It should be here mentioned that it is possible to insert the sealantinto the channel 14, with the use of certain tools, after the membershave been joined t-ogether. However, the insertion is more difficult andis not recommended.

The sealed joint 16 made according to the foregoing teaching isimprevious to moisture and other elemental media, unaffected byoxidation, stresses, `and the expan- 'sion and contraction strains thatare constantly imposed thereupon, and is substantially permanent due toits resistance against weather.

' Numerous other applications of the present invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art, such as in sealing auto body joints,packing or shipping containers, meter boxes, engine and motor housings,etc., to mention but a few. All such uses of the joint seal describedabove are deemed to fall within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A sealed joint in a wall structure comprising:

(a) an extruded vertical member formed of Van exteriorly disposedtubular box section joined by an integral web to a rear wall, recessesbeing defined on each side of said web between said box section and rearwall to retain the side edges of wall panels to be supported therein,

(b) ange means integrally formed on the rear side of said box section:on each side of said web adjacent said Vrecesses defining with saidrear side of said Ibox section U-shaped channels retaining a seal,

(c) a slot provided in each ange means communicating with each channel,

(d) an extruded T-shaped horizontal member defined by a panel supportingweb and a cross bar at one end thereof having a cross-sectionsubstantially identical to the configuration of said slot, saidhorizontal member being disposed normal to said vertical member with oneend thereof extending into the adjacent recess of said vertical memberwith said cross bar positioned snugly in said slot to form said joint,

(e) and a compressible-expandable seal retained in said channel, aportion of said seal extending through said slot and exerting pressureagainst said cross bar and thereby forming a tight, sealed joint betweensaid Vertical and horizontal members.

2. The sealed joint of claim 1 in which there is provided on the insideof said flange defining part of said seal retaining channel a continuousvertical groove, and a cylindrical red being installed and retained insaid groove on each side of said cross bar to prevent said seal fromcreeping out of said channel.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD W. COOKE, JR., Examiner.

l0/l934 Schunk 189-75

1. A SEALED JOINT IN A WALL STRUCTURE COMPRISING: (A) AN EXTRUDED VERTICAL MEMBER FORMED OF AN EXTERIORLY DISPOSED TUBULAR BOX SECTION JOINED BY AN INTEGRAL WEB TO A REAR WALL, RECESSES BEING DEFINED ON EACH SIDE OF SAID WEB BETWEEN SAID BOX SECTION AND REAR WALL TO RETAIN THE SIDE EDGES OF WALL PANELS TO BE SUPPORTED THEREIN, (B) FLANGE MEANS INTEGRALLY FORMED ON THE REAR SIDE OF SAID BOX SECTION ON EACH OF SIDE OF SAID WEB ADJACENT SAID RECESSES DEFINING WITH SAID REAR SIDE OF SAID BOX SECTION U-SHAPED CHANNELS RETAINING SEAL, (C) A SLOT PROVIDED IN EACH FLANGE MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH EACH CHANNEL, (D) AN EXTRUDED T-SHAPED HORIZONTAL MEMBER DEFINED BY A PANEL SUPPORTING WEB AND A CROSS BAR AT ONE END THEREOF HAVING A CROSS-SECTION SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL TO THE CONFIGURATION OF SAID SLOT, SAID HORIZONTAL MEMBER BEING DISPOSED NORMAL TO SAID VERTICAL MEMBER WITH ONE END THEREOF EXTENDING INTO THE ADJACENT RECESS OF SAID VERTICAL MEMBER WITH SAID CROSS BAR POSITIONED SNUGLY IN SAID SLOT TO FORM SAID JOINT, (E) AND A COMPRESSIBLE-EXPANDABLE SEAL RETAINED IN SAID CHANNEL, A PORTION OF SAID SEAL EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT AND EXERTING PRESSURE AGAINST SAID CROSS BAR AND THEREBY FORMING A TIGHT, SEALED JOINT BETWEEN SAID VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL MEMBERS. 